For 2650 miles, the Pacific Crest Trail wanders through some of the finest scenery the west has to offer- including one of the favorite gems of our country, Yosemite National Park. Across 70 glorious but rugged miles, the PCT traverses the steep ravines and wildflower-filled meadows of the east and north sides of the park and for over six days, I relished in all the light and form and beauty that Yosemite has to offer. 

 We entered Yosemite from the south over the spectacular Donahue Pass.
 Then we had to rest after the difficult climb! My post-lunch nap with Jana and Boba.
 I’ve always wanted to see the famous Tuolumne Meadows – I finally was going to get my chance at the bottom of that valley!
 Down, down, down we went into the meadows below.
 Finally, we made it to the lush and green of Tuolumne Meadows and camped for the night. 
 The next morning the cool mist added to the meadow’s beauty.
 Unfortunately, I wasn’t watching the trail too well and I tripped on a rock which sent me careening into another rock on trail. This rock gave me a nasty slice in my scalp and caused a lot of bloodshed. With my friend’s help, I assessed that I’d live without too bad of a headache, so I slapped a gauze pad on it, tightened a bandana around it for some pressure and started walking again. Seems like I’ll have a good souvenir scar of my time in Yosemite!

After all that, Jana and I caught a morning tourist bus taking us into Yosemite Valley. 

We enjoyed the major sites, camped in the Backpacker’s campground and cooled off in the river with thousands of other tourists. But mostly, we ate ice cream. Lots of it. It was really hot down there! 

 Back up at the higher elevation Tuolumne Meadows, we were able to pick up our food resupply packages -which we had previously mailed to ourselves. The Yosemite post office was damaged in the heavy Sierra snowfall last year so they are working out of a trailer to help us hikers get our necessities!


Then, we headed north again. For the next six days, Yosemite’s grandeur kept us in awe.

Yosemite is known for its rock; enormous slabs of granite gouged and smoothed by glaciers, water and wind. 

 Trail crews historically used the granite on which to locate a trail- just follow the rocks along the path, or clamber over the stone steps. I literally climbed thousands of steps through the Sierras, some of them as high as my knees. Even tall hikers complained about the incredible amount of steps we all had to ascend and descend every day!

Yosemite is known for its rivers, sometimes wandering slowly or rushing wildly, while always carving and smoothing along their journey. 


Yosemite is known for clear, cold lakes where we went for refreshing swims.

 Sometimes, when the weather is really warm, ya just have to cool off in the river with all your clothes on! This my friend, is the very best of what a long, hot hiking day can offer!
 Swimming in this refreshing pool at Glen Aulin is a great memory of my days in Yosemite!


Yosemite is known for its multitude of meadows with flowers lining every step. 

And, Yosemite is known for its wildlife. At least I got to see lots of mosquitoes!